Podcast thumbnail for Pandemic Zen

Pandemic Zen

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by Paul Gerstein

5.0(2 reviews)
14 episodes
Updated Weekly
Accepts GuestsHas Sponsors

Podcast Overview

An experimental podcast exploring the healing and life-sustaining potential of Zen insight, meditation and mindfulness in a modern world of existential challenges to health, happiness and our very survival. The author has over 50 years training in Zen practice, studying under roshis Philip Kapleau, Joshu Sasaki, and Richard Clarke, his root teacher whom he succeeded in 2013. He is a medical doctor specializing in Emergency Medicine and Addiction Medicine. Recorded by: Paul Gerstein

Language

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡²

Publishing Since

6/29/2020

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Recent Episodes

Episode thumbnail for Losing Your Body and Your Life

September 13, 2025

Losing Your Body and Your Life

Paul takes us on a deep dive into the 22nd koan in the Hekigan Roku: "Seppo's Turtle-Nosed Snake". Dealing with living, dying and Reality, this abstruse yet powerful koan can be penetrated by a close and careful look at the code-language and strange events depicted therein. Through this process, we learn how to work with the more puzzling Zen teaching stories and uncover their profound implications. This talk was presented by Paul Gerstein at the September 14, 2025 Living Dharma Center virtual zazenkai.

Episode thumbnail for Where the Rubber Meets the Road

December 17, 2024

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

How can Zen practice precisely meet the moment when things go "wrong"? We place the election of Trump in a larger context with the help of a shocking koan from the Mumonkan collection.

Episode thumbnail for The Substance of 'Me'

October 28, 2024

The Substance of 'Me'

Lecture (teisho) to a Zen retreat by Paul Gerstein on 10/27/2024 in which he presents the 7th koan from the Hekigan Roku (Blue Cliff Record): "You Are Eh-Cho!" To help elucidate this terse and penetrating koan, Paul discusses a famous line from The Diamond Sutra and goes on to explore an incorrect approach to mindfulness practice that can contribute to a kind of meditation illness or "Zen sickness". Paul describes a video presentation on the origins of the universe entitled, "Everything and Nothing" and how a specific understanding of cosmology points to a profound truth at the core of what we call, "Me".

14 total episodes available

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Frequently asked questions

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What is Pandemic Zen?

An experimental podcast exploring the healing and life-sustaining potential of Zen insight, meditation and mindfulness in a modern world of existential challenges to health, happiness and our very survival.

The author has over 50 years training in Zen practice, studying under roshis Philip Kapleau, Joshu Sasaki, and Richard Clarke, his root teacher whom he succeeded in 2013. He is a medical doctor specializing in Emergency Medicine and Addiction Medicine.

Recorded by: Paul Gerstein

How often does this podcast release new episodes?

This podcast updates weekly.

Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 8 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

Does this podcast accept guests?

No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.

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